Flash for FE2

R

Retro

Senior Member
I've been wanting an SB-22 for my FE2 for a long time. I've been looking at them on eBay, and I saved a few to my saved list. The other day I was in a used camera equipment store, and he had an SB-20 there. I would have bought it, but the ISO markers fell off inside the unit. I knew I could get a mint flash, so even if he sold it to me for $20, who cares?

The SB-22 was running about $50+sh on eBay, so I'd be looking at $80CAD. I just found an SB-20 for $24 + $15 shipping, so I bought it. After looking at the SB-20 in the store I decided that I liked it and it would be a good choice for me. I like the rolling light better than the light on the 22. Seems more versatile, and I won't need a slip on diffuser.

I'm used to the idea of having a 'main' flash, being the fully loaded SB-800 type of thing, and a back up, or pocket flash, for when your main flash fails (you drop it), or you want something that will fit in a jacket pocket where you're willing to sacrifice the bells and whistles just to have a flash that does the job.

So if the SB-20 is my main flash, what should my 'pocket' flash be? I would be interested in going with an F5 era flash if it made sense to do so. Any ideas?
 
W

WayneF

Senior Member
Retro said:
So if the SB-20 is my main flash, what should my 'pocket' flash be? I would be interested in going with an F5 era flash if it made sense to do so. Any ideas?
Click to expand...

The SB-20 might in fact be your "pocket flash"... It does not zoom, and has a guide number of 100 (at ISO 100). The SB-24 for example, is of the SB-800 power class (but of course is still a film TTL flash), and it does zoom, and has a similar guide number at 24mm zoom, but has a GN of 164 at 85mm zoom. Or GN 138 at 50mm. The difference in GN 138 and GN 100 is about one stop, or double power.

Many of the Nikon flash manuals are at
Nikon Product Manuals available for download | Nikon Knowledgebase

The SB-24 manual specifically mentions compatibility with the FE-2.
 
R

Retro

Senior Member
I had not even come across that model number in all of my reading about Nikon products! Thank you for your input! That is the kind of info I needed.
 
W

WayneF

Senior Member
IMO, the SB-24 and SB-26 are the classics and most popular of the era.
The manuals are available on line.

The SB_800 would work too (maybe pricy), as it also has full backwards compatibility with film TTL cameras too. Also the SB-600 does too.
 
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R

Retro

Senior Member
I just ordered an SB-28. I remember that was the F90/F5 era flash, and it will work great on my F100. I also ordered a case for it, to carry it on my belt.

But it looks like the SB-27 is the perfect pocket flash that I was looking for. I like that it has more functionality than the SB-23, which is either on or off. I have to agree with the purists who were happy that the F100 was introduced without the pop-up flash, but I can't carry an SB-28 around with me everywhere I go.
 
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